Five Tips for Usability in Your Checkout Process
You may think you’re home free once a user clicks on the button to begin the checkout process. Too often, usability issues in your final process may cause potential buyers to back out of the deal. Here are five tips to help ensure your users will complete the sale successfully:
- Show Product Inventory
Shoppers want to know their items are in stock and ready to ship. Indicate the status of all products as early in the checkout process as possible. You may also want to consider showing the ship date and the estimated delivery date.
- Allow for Order Adjustments during Checkout
As the checkout process begins, provide users with the opportunity to easily adjust their contents. Shoppers should be able to delete items and change the quantity of items already selected. This is also an excellent opportunity for upselling by providing complimentary products.
- Show the Progress of the Checkout Process
Users should always be aware of where they are in the checkout process and how many steps remain. If shoppers feel they are trapped in page after page of checkout information with no end in sight there’s a good chance they’ll abandon the sale.
- Offer a Variety of Options
Each shopper has a unique preference for how they wish to pay and ship their products. By offering a wide variety of reputable options, users are more likely to find one they are comfortable with. When a shopper can use both a payment and shipping method they trust, they are more likely to complete the sale.
- Create a Comprehensive Sale Confirmation
Once the sale is completed, users should be given both a checkout confirmation page and a confirmation email. This receipt should include all pertinent information regarding the sale, including order number, total cost, payment method, itemised discounts, shipping address and expected delivery. Also ensure that the confirmation page can be easily printed.
Take the time to thoroughly test your checkout process and ensure the steps are simple to complete. After working so hard to complete your website, it’s the last place you want to lose a sale.
